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Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris, Paris, Île-de-France, France

Notre-Dame de Paris is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, and is among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world. The Notre-Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress. The building was not originally designed to include the flying buttresses around the choir and nave but after the construction began, the thinner walls grew ever higher and stress fractures began to occur as the walls pushed outward. In response, the cathedral’s architects built supports around the outside walls, and later additions continued the pattern. Many small individually crafted statues were placed around the outside to serve as column supports and water spouts. Among these are the famous gargoyles, designed for water run-off, and chimeras. The statues were originally colored as was most of the exterior. The paint has worn off. The cathedral was complete by 1345.

Portail du Jugement Dernier, illustrating Christ the Judge and Archangel Michael directing the righteous to heaven and the damned to hell
Frontal view from the Parvis Notre Dame
Portail de Sainte-Anne, depicting the story of the Virgin’s parents, the Annunciation, and Nativity of Christ

Portail du Jugement Dernier

Gallery of Kings, with 28 figures of French Kings, and a statue of the Virgin with Child between two angels in front of a large rose

Statue of Carolus Magnus on the Parvis Notre Dame
View from the Rue de Cloitre
Statue of the Virgin with Child between two angels in front of a large rose

Details of the entrance portals

The 12 Apostles near the spire
Cross on the East side of Notre Dame
The 12 Apostles near the spire
Water sprite along the Rue de Cloitre
Angel on the Fountain of the Virgin in the Place Jean XXIII
Gargoyles

Candles burning in the cathedral

The spire viewed from Promenade Maurice Careme
The 12 Apostles near the spire
West facade viewed from Le Petit Pont

Belltowers viewed from Promenade Maurice Careme
Fountain of the Virgin and the butresses viewed from Place Jean XXIII
The spire of the cathedral

View of the cathedral from Promenade Maurice Careme

Central nave of Notre Dame
South Rose window
Devotive candles in from of picture of Jesus on the cross

Wooden Relief Depicting the Stories of Christ

Mother and child statue
Portail de la Vierge showing the Assumption of the Virgin and Ark of the Covenant
Mother and child statue